Background: The Taino -- indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of Europeans -- divided the island now known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti into five chiefdoms and territories. Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but the Haitians conquered and ruled it for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later, they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled and mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930 to 1961. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the US led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in the presidential election. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years, until international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held.

Area
Total: 48,670 km²
Land: 48,320 km²
Water: 350 km²
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 376 km
Border countries (1): (1) Haiti 376 km

Coastline: 1,288 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Note: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys

Elevation
Highest point: Pico Duarte 3,098 m
Lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
Mean elevation: 424 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 20.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 46.6% (2023 est.)
Other: 0% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,981 km² (2018)

Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts

Geography
Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds makes up the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti); the second largest country in the Antilles (after Cuba); geographically diverse with the Caribbean's tallest mountain, Pico Duarte, and lowest elevation and largest lake, Lago Enriquillo

Population
Total: 10,815,857 (2024 est.)
Male: 5,465,776
Female: 5,350,081
Distribution: coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest; smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central)
Growth rate: 0.76% (2024 est.)

Languages: Spanish (official)
Major-language sample(s): ; La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Evangelical 50.2%, Roman Catholic 30.1%, none 18.5%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 25.5% (male 1,402,847/female 1,358,833)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 3,667,584/female 3,563,848)
65 years and over: 7.6% (2024 est.) (male 395,345/female 427,400)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 49.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 38.2 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 8.8 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 29.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 29.1 years
Female: 29.4 years

Population growth rate: 0.76% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 17.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest; smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central)

Urbanization
Urban population: 84.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 3.524 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 124 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 19 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 71 years
Female: 74.3 years

Total fertility rate: 2.15 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 3.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.5% (2024 est.); 5.6% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Santo Domingo
Geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: named after Saint Domingo de GUZMAN (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order; the city's full name was originally Santo Domingo de Guzman

Administrative divisions: 31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabón, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elías Piña, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Hermanas Mirabal, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, María Trinidad Sánchez, Monseñor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Sánchez Ramírez, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, Santiago Rodríguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
Head of government: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
Election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a maximum of two consecutive terms)
Most recent election date: 19 May 2024
2024: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona reelected president; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 57.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 28.8%, Abel MARTÍNEZ (PLD) 10.4%, other 3.3%
2020: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona elected president in first round; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 52.5%, Gonzalo CASTILLO Terrero (PLD) 37.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9%, other 1.1%
Expected date of next election: 21 May 2,028
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Congress of the Republic (Congreso Nacional de la República)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Flag description: a centered white cross extends to the edges and divides the flag into four rectangles; the top ones are ultramarine blue (left side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (left side) and ultramarine blue; a small coat of arms with a shield supported by a laurel branch and a palm branch is at the center of the cross; above the shield, a blue ribbon displays the motto DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty); below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA is on a red ribbon; on the shield, a Bible is opened to a verse that reads 'Y la verdad nos hara libre' (And the truth shall set you free)

National anthem
Title: 'Himno Nacional' (National Anthem)
Lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES
History: adopted 1934; also known as 'Quisqueyanos valientes' (Valiant Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem refers to the Dominican people as Quisqueyanos, which comes from the ethnic name for the island

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 5% (2024 est.); 2.2% (2023 est.); 5.2% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 5% (2024 est.); 2.2% (2023 est.); 5.2% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 67.7% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 11.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.9% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -29% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.5% (2024 est.)
Industry: 28.7% (2024 est.)
Services: 59.8% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices

Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 5.413 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.5% (2024 est.); 5.6% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.5% (2024 est.); 5.6% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $20.418 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $24.348 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 14.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $28.563 billion (2024 est.); $25.79 billion (2023 est.); $25.169 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: medical instruments, tobacco, gold, garments, power equipment (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $36.144 billion (2024 est.); $34.45 billion (2023 est.); $36.838 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, natural gas, plastic products, crude petroleum (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 6.581 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 22.193 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.369 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 98.1% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 98.8%
Access electrification - rural areas: 95%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 5.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 146,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas
Consumption: 2.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.997 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.279 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 29.713 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 5.374 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 19.872 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 4.467 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 39.329 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.144 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 10.4 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1.26 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 32 (2025)

Heliports: 8 (2025)

Railways
Total: 496 km (2014)
Standard gauge: 354 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 142 km (2014) 0.762-m gauge

Merchant marine
Total: 40 (2023)
By type: container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 36